Prior to his untimely passing, Matthew Perry had a rather unique request involving actor Zac Efron. The late “Friends” star wished to create a biopic about his life, and he had his heart set on having Zac Efron play a younger version of himself in the film.
Matthew Perry and Zac Efron had previously worked together on the 2009 teen fantasy comedy “17 Again,” where Perry’s character magically transformed back to his 17-year-old self. In the movie, both actors portrayed the same character at different ages, and it was a box office hit.
A friend of Perry’s, Athenna Crosby, who had the opportunity to meet with him for lunch the day before his unexpected passing, revealed Perry’s aspirations. Perry was determined to make a movie about his life and had envisioned Zac Efron taking on the role of his younger self in the biopic.
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Perry’s motivation was driven by a desire to share more of his personal story, particularly his journey through addiction and recovery. He aimed to be a beacon of hope and support for others dealing with similar challenges. Crosby noted that he was optimistic and enthusiastic about these endeavors.
Zac Efron had previously played a younger version of Perry’s character in “17 Again,” a film that explored the transformation of a 37-year-old man, portrayed by Perry, back into his 17-year-old self, played by Efron.
